Sat 28th June – Mon 30th June

10am we moved out of the camper and into our ‘Luxury Condo’ (just a house with 3 b’rooms, 2 bathrooms, garage & laundry) but to us it was luxury! I managed a long hot shower, up ended my bag all over the bedroom and then sat down at a real table to read the paper, how little it takes to please me now!
Shelby, Groatie, Molly, Sally, Emma & Rebecca arrived with Tarago and camper trailer next, so the Champagne had to be opened while Pete set off to the airport to fetch the Smiths and Terry. What was meant to be a quick stop turned into a little drinkies (a sign of things to come, me thinks!) and they all stayed for dinner while Mark & Terry rushed off to Woollies to stock the boat, finally off they all went to the Marina well after dark.
Karen took her kids to explore the trailer and set up for their first night (unfortunately Guyren was stuck in Sydney with a sick dad and wouldn’t be arriving until after we left on the boat). Karen had grandiose ideas about taking her kids out to the reef and exploring the nearby areas but once all the kids teamed up, nothing was going to tear them apart and she was easily convinced that a few days around the pool, wasn’t such a bad idea.
The Patons finally arrived raring to go and more Champagne was had, the boys now revising all alcohol requirements for the next 2 weeks.
BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort (Luxury Condo with Patons)

Sun 29th June – Day 50: Coral Sea pm
A lazy day had by the girls, kids no-where to be seen and dads off buying everything the fishing shop had to offer (and some). Convinced they would catch the ‘big one’ this time, they were sparing no expense on the ‘tricks of the trade’ and took everything the so-called expert said they should have!
A local call advised all crew had now arrived and a meeting at sunset was arranged to enjoy the waters edge of the Coral Sea resort. On arrival a large bar tab already established, many crew already ‘3 sheets to wind’ and still going strong. Kids disappeared up to someone’s room to make use of balcony spa and large TV screen for DVD’s while parents continued to spin a lot of C.R.A.P. Boys again revised alcohol requirements for boats.
BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort (Luxury Condo with Patons)

Mon 30th June – Day 51: Shopping for Boat
A quick shop at Woolies for last minute essentials, turned into an all day extravaganza. I mean we were getting gourmet catering, how much other stuff did we need! Plenty, according to the Patons, I feel Gillian has a deep seated fear of ever running out of food and they returned 3 times to get more ’stuff’, just in case…. More shopping for our First Fleet stuff which neither family had paid much attention to until last night when everyone was boasting about their costumes, so now we had to think fast and make something quick!
Late afternoon spent painting costumes and flags and getting beautiful condo covered in ‘black paint’.
Both of us ran through list of procedures with Karen until her eyes glazed over and I dragged Pete away to leave her in peace and figure it out by herself. It’s not like she will remember any of it, you learn by trail and error anyway.
BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort (Luxury Condo with Patons)